Wednesday, September 30, 2015

For those who are seriously into the English language and more so, enjoy word play!

Check out this “punography”!

A pun, or paronomasia, is a form of word play that deliberately exploits an ambiguity between similar-sounding words for humorous or rhetorical effect. Such ambiguity may arise from the intentional misuse of homophonical, homographical, homonymic, polysemic, metonymic, or metaphorical language.

Yesterday, the Federal Court upheld the one-year jail term imposed on Mohamad Khir Toyo (left)– who was Selangor MB from 2000 to 2008 – for corruption. [Note: He had wrongfully used his position to acquire property for RM3 million less than the initial price].

It affirmed the forfeiture of two plots of land and a palatial mansion in Section 7, Shah Alam.

And it rejected mitigation by Mohamad Khir, a dentist, to be allowed to do community service by providing free dental treatment or even pay a fine instead of serving a jail term.

A year’s imprisonment is not a holiday but neither is it remotely excessive. Mohamad Khir had received a slap on the wrist.
He should thank his lucky stars.

P Waythamoorthy, Hindraf Makkal Sakthi chairperson and who was until last year a Senator and Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, had narrated a story about an unemployed 22-year-old who stole some rice and sardines – valued at not more than RM70 – from a grocery shop. Shashikumar Selvam was given a 10-year jail sentence and within a year, he ended up dead in prison.

Compare and contrast the crime and the punishment between the two individuals in two different sets of circumstances. Mohamad Khir should be overjoyed he received what he did. Tell him to shaddup and stop whining!

Yesterday, I was in SS15 Subang Jaya to attend the Taylor’s College Toastmasters Club meeting. And just like my previous visits, it was a good meeting – thanks to the speakers who were splendidly superb. I certainly enjoyed listening to them and I marvelled at the students’ eloquence. And what made it more striking was the fact that all three speeches were Ice-breakers! Wow!

Tuesday, September 29, 2015

On September 17, 2015, Frito-Lay’s Doritos brand social media pages announced a new product called Doritos Rainbows – a product that represents a fundraising initiative in partnership with the LGBT youth advocacy group It Gets Better Project.

The chips come in shades of green, blue, purple, red, and orange that were inspired by colors of the Pride flag. They are available exclusively online. All you need to do is to donate ten dollars or more and you get the limited edition Doritos Rainbows.

As expected, the product polarized consumers. Many pledged to purchase the chips, while others left social media comments claiming they would no longer buy Doritos at all.

I suppose you can never please everybody!

AFP pic

Yesterday in Hong Kong, pro-democracy demonstrators and activists assembled outside the government headquarters building to mark one year since the start of mass pro-democracy rallies calling for fully free leadership elections.

The 2014 Occupy protests began after China's central government claimed it was offering a compromise of sorts by allowing a popular vote for the Hong Kong leader in 2017 but insisted candidates were to be vetted.Continue the struggle!

Malaysians will do well to remember these words from our much-respected first Prime Minister:

In an interview with Yahoo News’ Michael Isikoff, Carly Fiorina (left) boasted about collaborating with US intelligence agencies during her tenure as CEO of Hewlett-Packard.

Fiorina’s close, if little-known relationship with the intelligence community dates back to the weeks after the September 11, 2001 terror attacks, when she got an urgent phone call from then National Security Agency director Michael Hayden asking her to promptly provide his agency with HP computer servers – and which she did.

The servers were needed for a massive warrantless wiretapping surveillance program, including the bulk collection of American citizens’ phone records and emails – codenamed “Stellar Wind” – that had been secretly ordered by then President George W Bush.

And Fiorina said she felt it was her "duty."

After Hayden became CIA director in 2006, he named Fiorina as chair of an agency external advisory board consisting of former top intelligence officials, generals and business leaders. In that capacity, she made regular trips to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, including overseeing one specific project requested by Hayden: Provide advice on how the CIA could maintain their undercover espionage mission in a culture of increasing government leaks and demands for greater public accountability and openness.

[Note: Fiorina made a name for herself in the tech industry, climbing the ranks at AT&T and becoming the CEO at HP – and the first female head of a Fortune 500 company – in 1999, before being forced to resign in 2005. And HP's stock went up 7% the day she left].

This is the woman who has stoutly defended the torture practice of waterboarding as a way to "keep our nation safe". Enough said!

On Monday, I was at the See Hoy Chan office in PJ to attend the Phoenix Toastmasters meeting. I delivered a CC #7 speech titled “Women Prefer Cold Hard Cash” – a good well-researched speech actually that even had humor! I was voted Best Speaker.

A good turnout even if guests outnumbered members. We started six minutes late and we finished just before ten o’clock. I would score this meeting a 4 over 10.

Monday, September 28, 2015

On September 23, 2015, Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi pardoned one hundred prisoners including the three Al-Jazeera television journalists.
The trio, Canadian Mohamed Fahmy, Egyptian Baher Mohamed and Australian Peter Greste, were sentenced to three years in prison in a retrial last month for operating without a press license and broadcasting material harmful to Egypt.

At least, a happy ending!

Yesterday, I attended a Myanmar event. A church wedding. A simple ceremony. A union of two people.

The pictures taken at DUMC (Damansara United Methodist Church) located at Jalan 13/1 in Petaling Jaya, are captured here: